An Alabama truck driver has been indicted on murder and DUI charges for allegedly causing eight crashes along Interstate 65 earlier this year, a series of incidents prosecutors have called the “27 miles of terror.” A college football player was killed during the chain of crashes.
John McAdams, 31, reportedly admitted to drinking an unknown amount of tequila from a water bottle and taking kratom, an herbal supplement sold as an energy booster and pain reliever, before driving his Peterbilt 18-wheeler on May 6.
This week, a grand jury indicted McAdams on multiple charges:
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One count of murder for the death of 22-year-old William Hardrick, an Adamsville native and college football player
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Six counts of leaving the scene of an accident
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One count of driving under the influence
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One count of trafficking synthetic drugs
According to investigators, McAdams pulled over his 2000 Peterbilt at the 365-mile marker of I-65 to rest and drink tequila, also admitting to consuming half a teaspoon to one tablespoon of kratom, which is illegal in Alabama. He reportedly told police he did not remember the details of the crashes after resuming driving.
McAdams allegedly struck a sedan traveling at 85 mph, swerving across lanes, before hitting Hardrick’s vehicle roughly six miles later. Hardrick’s car went off the road, struck a wildlife fence and guardrail, overturned, and rolled several times, leaving him partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.
Minutes later, McAdams allegedly crashed into the rear of an SUV, forcing it to pull over, and continued to collide with other vehicles before he could no longer operate the truck. Cellphone footage reportedly shows his red Peterbilt engulfed in flames afterward.
Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment, and McAdams’ BAC was .09, exceeding the legal limit of .04 for commercial drivers.
State attorneys have labeled the string of crashes as “27 miles of terror.” McAdams is being held without bond in Limestone County following his indictment.
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